Bumper hockey shootout game

ABSTRACT

A bumper hockey game may be provided. The bumper hockey game may comprises a hockey board, a plurality of rails, a plurality of goals, and a plurality of guard blocks. The plurality of rails may surround the hockey board. The plurality of guard blocks may each situated near one of the plurality of goals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a game, and more specifically relates to a bumper hockey game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a bumper hockey game comprises a hockey board; a plurality of rails surrounding the hockey board; a plurality of goals; and a plurality of guard blocks each situated near one of the plurality of goals.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for playing a bumper hockey game may comprise moving a puck on a hockey board via a hockey stick into a first goal and passed guard block.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c show views of the bumper hockey game in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show views of a puck used in the bumper hockey game of FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c; and

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a hockey stick used in the bumper hockey game of FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a bumper hockey game that may be played without being powered by electricity.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c a hockey board 100 may comprise a base sheet 105 that may be, for example, approximately two feet by three feet, rails 110, corner brace blocks 115, and goal guard blocks 120. The base sheet 105 may be a rectangular sheet that may be made of wood or any other suitable material. Four rails 110 may enclose the rectangular base sheet 105 and four corner brace blocks 115 may be placed at the corners of the base sheet 105. The corner brace blocks 115 may help to reinforce the rails 110 around the base sheet 105 as well as to ensure that there are no dead zones on the hockey board 100 for a puck 125 (FIG. 2) to get stuck in. The rails and base board 110 and 110 a may be decorated with side markers, name and colored lines.

A pair of goals 135 may be cut out of two opposite rails 110 so that the goals 135 directly face each other, and a guard block 120 may be situated near each of the pair of goals 135, such as being directly situated in front of the goals 135. The goals 135 may be of a size that allows the goals 135 to accept the puck 125. The goals 135 may be openings, such as rectangular openings, cut out of the rails 110, or may be standalone miniature hockey goals. The guard blocks 120 may be rectangular in shape and may be disposed so that a corner 120 a of a guard block 120 may directly face the center of a goal 135. The guard blocks 120 may be situated so that it is possible for the puck 125 to move between the guard block 120 and the goal 135 so that a goal may be scored via the puck 125 entering the goal 135. The position of the guard blocks 120 in front of the goals 135 may make it more or less difficult for goals to be scored by situating the guard farther from or closer to a respective goal 135. In alternative embodiments, more guard blocks 120 may be placed on the base sheet 105 at various positions on the base sheet 105 to increase the difficulty of scoring a goal.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a hockey stick 130 may be provided to each player of the bumper hockey game to shoot the puck 125 into the goals 135 on the hockey board 100. The hockey stick 130 may be of a hook shape and may include a shaft 130 a and a blade 130 b with the shaft 130 a disposed at an obtuse angle, such as an angle that is approximately 25-30 degrees past vertical, to the blade 130 b. Both the shaft 130 a and the blade 130 b of the hockey stick 130 may be used for contacting and shooting the puck 125 within the hockey board 100 and into the goals 135.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the puck 125 may be a cylindrical disc and may comprise a recessed center portion 125 a that is thinner than an outer ring portion 125 b. The recessed center portion 125 a may be able to fit ends 130 c of the hockey stick 130 or an inner corner 130 d of the hockey stick 130 so that the puck 125 may be more easily manipulated with greater accuracy and speed by the hockey stick 130.

In an exemplary embodiment, two players may play the bumper hockey game. Each player may be provided with the hockey stick 130 to shoot the puck 125 into the opposing goal 135. The puck 125 may be initially placed in a center 100 a of the hockey board 100 and the players may take turns shooting the puck 125 until a goal is scored when the puck 125 enters one of the goals 135. To score a goal, the puck 125 may be required to bounce off one of the side rails 110 and clear the guard block 120. The non-shooting player may not be allowed to defend his own goal 135 with his hockey stick 130. If a goal is not scored, the puck 125 may remain where it is on the hockey board 100 and the opposing player may take a turn at trying to score a goal. Once a goal is scored, the puck 125 may again be placed at the center 100 a of the hockey board and the scoring player may shoot again. A player may win the game when he is the first to score a certain number of goals, such as seven goals.

The components of the bumper hockey game may be fashioned by cutting the components out of a suitable material, such as wood. The rails 110 may be fitted to the base sheet 105, such as by fitting the base sheet 105 into a notch 110 a on each of the rails 110, such as shown in FIG. 1 c. The base sheet 105 may then be secured to the rails 110, such as via glue, screws, or any other appropriate means of securing the base sheet 105 to the rails 110.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the hockey board 100 may be fitted with an air pump system below the base sheet 105 that may pump air through tiny holes on the base sheet 105 in order to produce a cushion of air on the surface of the base sheet 105, so that the puck 125 may be able to float across the surface of the base sheet 105, thereby allowing the puck 125 to travel at a faster rate across the base sheet 105. Such an air pump system may be used when the hockey board 100 is large, such as if the hockey board 100 is approximately the size of a regulation pool table, to allow the bumper hockey game to be played at a high rate of speed.

In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the bumper hockey game may be computerized so that an electronic bumper hockey game may be implemented via computer software. Alternatively, the bumper hockey game may be hooked up to a gaming console or a computer, so that the bumper hockey game may be played electronically.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A bumper hockey game comprising: a hockey board; a plurality of rails surrounding the hockey board; a plurality of goals; a plurality of guard blocks each situated near one of the plurality of goals; a hockey stick for each player; and a puck, the puck being a cylindrical disc having a recessed center portion on each flat side thereof, wherein ends or an inner corner of the hockey stick is adapted to fit into the recessed center portion of the hockey puck.
 2. The bumper hockey game of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of corner brace blocks each situated at an intersection of a first rail and a second rail within the plurality of rails.
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. The bumper hockey game of claim 1 wherein the plurality of goals comprise a plurality of openings in the plurality of rails.
 7. A method of playing a bumper hockey game, the bumper hockey game including a hockey board, a plurality of rails surrounding the hockey board, a plurality of goals, and a plurality of guard blocks each situated near one of the plurality of goals, the method comprising: moving a puck on a hockey board via a hockey stick into a first goal and past a guard block, wherein the puck is a cylindrical disc having a recessed center portion on each flat side thereof, and ends or an inner corner of the hockey stick is adapted to fit into the recessed center portion of the hockey puck.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: shooting the puck so the puck doesn't go directly into the goal.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising blocking the puck from the first goal with a guard block when the puck is shot directly at the first goal.
 10. The method of claim 7, further comprising: winning a game by causing the puck to be moved into the first goal a predetermined number of times.
 11. A bumper hockey game comprising: a hockey board; a plurality of rails surrounding the hockey board; a plurality of goals; a plurality of guard blocks each situated near one of the plurality of goals; a plurality of corner brace blocks each situated at an intersection of a first rail and a second rail within the plurality of rails a hockey stick for each player; and a puck, the puck being a cylindrical disc having a recessed center portion on each flat side thereof, wherein ends or an inner corner of the hockey stick is adapted to fit into the recessed center portion of the hockey puck.
 12. The bumper hockey game of claim 11 wherein the plurality of goals comprise a plurality of openings in the plurality of rails. 